1st in class hides regression

It’s been 10 minutes since the bell rang and the teacher hasn’t come.

 

In college, this would be an automatic dismissal, but in high school?

 “Should I go pick him up?” “What if you get separated?” “Just go to the office and see if he’s there.” “He’s a nut job. If he’s not there when I get back, I’ll take points off.” “Eva.” “It’s true. He did that to me freshman year.” “So, what do we do, wait it out?” “That’ll get us in trouble again. The teacher didn’t show up.” “No, but isn’t it the teacher’s fault?” 

The student’s voices, which were quiet at first, gradually became louder.

 

I don’t remember the teacher ever not coming to class before the regression. T

his is the butterfly effect.

 

I nervously checked the timetable.

 “It’s Jiri again.” 

A male teacher in his 50s with a bad reputation for openly favoring Woo Do-yeon.

 

What was his name?

 

I don’t remember his name, only that he had a personality disorder.

 

He used to humiliate kids with his fists over honey bombs…

 

‘All those who haven’t done their homework, get up. First class, sit down. The rest of you stand until the end of the class.’

Something like that.

 

It was almost the last generation to be able to keep a roof over their heads as a teacher.

 “Oh, let’s just sit here, he’ll be here soon.” “If he does not, will you be responsible for the whole class?” “Kang Dahye, shouldn’t you go pick him up?” 

‘Huh? Me?’

 

I looked back at the person who spoke.

 

It was Seo Jae-gyeom’s mate.

 

Doha Joon.

 

The same guy who won the popularity contest with the girls in our grade last year.

 

If he had a better brain, he would have made a Chasebook or something and rated girls on their looks.

 

I narrowed my eyes, suddenly feeling singled out.

 “Why would I…?” “You’re the interim class president,”

Doha said, sounding incredulous.

 “…I am?” 

Now that I think about it, I was only given that role briefly at the beginning of the semester because I was good at studying…

 

I had forgotten that it was only a temporary role until the class president election, and another kid was elected.

 

After a moment of reminiscing about the past, the girls said something as if they had the answer.

 “Yeah, Kang Dahye.” “Why don’t you go to the staff room, ask the teachers, go up to Jiri, and then come back.” “You won’t get in trouble. He’s in the first grade.” 

No, I’m not going to go.

 

It doesn’t feel good to be forced to go.

 

Some of the girls were taking the initiative to say something.

 

They were the ones who had been ignoring and criticizing Do-yeon.

 

Maybe now they don’t even like me for helping Do-yeon.

 

Doha Joon frowned in a thin voice.

 “Or Woo Do-yeon can go. Jiri likes her.” “Hey, I’ll just go, so shut up.” 

I sighed and got up from my seat.

 

It was then.

 “Oh, shut the fuck up.” 

Seo Jae-gyeom, who was sleeping on his stomach regardless of whether the kids were being noisy or not, sat up with a frown.

 

He looked around with a nervous look on his face.

 “You’re trying so hard to blame Kang Dahye for not wanting to go. For bringing in a teacher. Are there zombies walking around outside the classroom?” 

The kids who had been chattering away at the scolding remark fell silent.

 

Seo Jae-gyeom pushed off his chair and stood up, pulling out his cell phone from his pants pocket and holding it in his hand.

 “Seo Jae-gyeom, why?” “I’m leaving.” “Forget it. I’m calling a teacher, why don’t you two go?” “I can’t stay with them because they’re all assholes.” “Oh.” 

Well, then…

 

But…

 “What about you, Jung Eun-sung?” 

Over Seo Jae-gyeom’s shoulder, he gave Eun-sung Jung a questioning glance as he stood up from his seat.

 “You’re coming with us?” 

Three people is a bit much, to say the least.

 

Eun-sung made eye contact and replied nonchalantly.

 “I’m going to the restroom.” “…Now?” 

What did you just hear? Jae-gyeom is not a good person.

 “Just hold on for 38 minutes.” “Okay.” “Why did you get up?” 

He got up to go to the bathroom, so I thought it was urgent.

 

But I didn’t question him for long because Seo Jae-gyeom, cell phone in hand, was already walking out of the classroom.

 

‘Why is he being so cranky today?’

I thought.

 “Pairs, one of you is A, the other is B…” “Funny, isn’t my spirit dead…” 

Seo Jae-gyeom and I were the only ones in the hallway during class.

 

Only the sound of the teacher’s voice and the chalk tapping on the blackboard leaked out, and in the distance, I could hear a class laughing.

 

The sunlight streaming in from the window glistens on the dust floating in the air.

 

Seo Jae-gyeom was quiet.

 

He walks briskly, looking at his cell phone with one hand. He walks slightly ahead of me, not even bothering to pace himself.

 

I didn’t particularly want to match his pace or talk to him, so I just peeked out of the corner of my eye as he passed by.

 

Classrooms, uniforms, sunlight. The teenage years I’ll never get back.

 

The kids look bored to death, but I’m the only one feeling nostalgic…

 

The short viewing ended when Seo Jae-gyeom continued down the second floor to the faculty office without stopping.

 “Seo Jae-gyeom, where are you going? The staff room is this way.” “The cafeteria.” “Huh? Why are you going to the cafeteria?”

I asked, but Seo Jae-gyeom didn’t answer, just looked at his phone.

 “Hey, that’s not right. It’s class time.” “I’ll take care of it.” 

Seo Jae-gyeom disappeared to the first floor with a tired look on his face.

 “Come on.” 

I shook my head in disbelief and turned around.

 

Heading for the faculty office up ahead…approaching.

 “What the hell, you!” 

I bumped into Jiri coming out of the faculty restroom.

 “Why are you hanging around during class? What grade and what class are you in?” “I was on my way to fetch you. You didn’t show up when class started.” 

I squinted and looked back and forth between the restroom and Jiri’s face.

 

He must have been constipated.

 “Hmmm, is that so?” “Yeah.” “Well, you should have been here sooner, it’s been 15 minutes, and these are falling out.” 

Jiri checked his watch and hurried back to the staff room to grab his textbooks.

 “I didn’t expect to find Jiri so quickly.” 

What about Seo Jae-gyeom? He stared at the stairs leading down to the cafeteria and followed Jiri.

 “You’re in second grade, right, Do-yeon’s class?” “Yeah.” “You’re the class president?” “I’m the interim class president.” “Oh, you’re Kang Dahye? You’re also close with Han Jisoo from class 1, right?” “Yes.” “Seo Jae-gyeom!” 

Jiri yelled.

 

Seo Jae-gyeom, who was coming up the opposite staircase, looked back this way, expressionless.

 

He was at the end of the hallway.

 “Seo Jae-gyeom, you bastard! Where have you been?” 

Oops.

 “Sir, that’s not true. Seo Jae-gyeom came out with me to look for you…” “You came out together, but why is he coming from that direction? Wait, isn’t that a cell phone in his hand?” “…….” “You asshole…” 

I’ll spare you the rest of the geography, because no one wants to hear the ramblings of an excited middle-aged man.

 

To make a long story short, Seo Jae-gyeom was punished by staying after school.

 

What’s even more ridiculous is that I was punished for being the class president and failing to stop him.

 “Just run away. I’ll call your parents right away.” 

After school.

 

Jiri, who had set the tone, threw me and Seo Jae-gyeom into the counseling room next to the principal’s office.

 

A square plate-glass table for six was set with a stack of gray recycled paper test papers.

 “Remember that geography note test from the first period? I want you two to stay and finish grading these. Organize them by class and number, and next to each question you got wrong, write why you got it wrong and the correct answer in red pen.” “…….” 

That’s it?

 

Jiri, who had left us to do his work as a punishment, emphasized one more time that he would call our parents if we

“splashed,”

and left.

 

Classes 1 through 10. I stare in disbelief at the table with 300 test papers and a geography textbook on it.

 “…….” 

Yeah, I forgot all about geography anyway.

 

I’ll study.

 

I sighed and sat down, pulling the stack of papers closer.

 “The teachers sure have egos, and they shouldn’t be asking us to grade these papers.” 

But Seo Jae-gyeom didn’t sit down.

 

I looked back at him standing there.

 “What’s wrong?”